Social Penetration Theory

• Proponent

  Irwin Altman & Dalmas Taylor
• Year proposed

  1973
• Historical context

  Early discussions began in the 1960s and 1970s, a time wherein speaking freely was a highly valued characteristic and opening up was an important relational strategy
• Social Penetration Theory


  Posits that relationships progress from non intimate to intimate through self-disclosure (Revealing information about oneself)
• Social Penetration Theory

  There is a pattern or trajectory on how a relationships progress. Relationship development are organized and predictable.
• There is more to intimacy than just physical intimacy. Examples of these are:


  Verbal, nonverbal, and environmentally oriented behaviors
• Assumptions of SPT

  (1) Relationships progress from non-intimate to intimate, (2) Relationship development is systematic and predictable, (3) Relationship development includes depenetration (deterioration of a relationship) and dissolution (breakup), (4) Self-disclosure is the core of relationship development.
• Relationships progress from being non-intimate to intimate

  Communication between two people begin at a superficial level and progresses as more interaction occurs
• TRUE


  TRUE OR FALSE: We may not know the exact direction of a relationship, but they are still organized and predictable. Relationships that are ever-changing still follow a pattern of development.
• Relational development includes depenetration and dissolution

  The failing of a relationship (deterioration) can lead to dissolution (breakup). Communication can lead to intimacy but it can also set it back to non-intimacy.
• Self-disclosure definition

  Purposeful disclosure of personal information to another person
• Two dimensions of self-disclosure

  Breadth (number of topics discussed) and Depth (the degree of intimacy of the topic discussions)
• Self-disclosure can be...?

  Strategic: We plan what we will say to another person and Non-strategic: Spontaneous self-disclosure
• Spontaneous self-disclosure is also called?

  Stranger on the train: people reveal personal information to complete strangers in public
• Disclosing too much too soon can lead to an end of a relationship
• Altman and Taylor linked a person's personality to...?

  An onion
• Onion Analogy

  The outer layer is an individual's public image. Peeling this layer and having it reciprocated is a primary component of SPT.
• SPT is grounded in what theory?


  Social Exchange Theory
• Social Exchange Theory

  It is a theory wherein REWARDS are relational events or behaviors that stimulate pleasure or positive feelings, while COSTS are relational events or behaviors that stimulate negative feelings
• According to Social Exchange Theory

  People are more willing to stay in a relationship with more rewards than costs.
• With the Social Exchange Theory, Altman and Taylor reported two conclusions


  (1) Rewards and costs have greater impact in early stages of a relationship, (2) Relationships with more positive reward/cost experiences handle conflicts better.
• STAGES OF THE SOCIAL PENETRATION PROCESS

  (1) Orientation, (2) Exploratory Affective Exchange, (3) Affective Exchange, (4) Stable Exchange
• Stage 1: Orientation

  Revaling small parts of oneself
• Stage 2: Exploratory Affective Exchange

  A person's personality emerges
• Stage 3: Affective Exchange


  Frequent spontaneous and comfortable interactions. It includes both positive and negative exchanges
• Stage 4: Stable Exchange 


  There is complete openness and few misinterpretations
• Objective of the chosen study on SPT


  To understand the relationship between personal-service providers and their client to see if their relationship follows the universal principles of self-disclosure.
• Results of the study on SPT

  (1) Self-disclosure is not always meant to deepen the relationship, (2) The self-disclosure wasn't reciprocal (3) Often occurred in interactions between two people, (4) There is a lack of relationship and communication outside of the service experience, (5) service-providers had to endure emotional labor because of the amount of self-disclosure from client interactions.